Fort Murchison

Activities in Murchison Falls N.P.

The Murchison Falls National Park lays at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the Bunyoro escarpment merges into the vast plains of Acholiland. The park is Uganda's largest national park (3840 sq.km) and is bisected by the Victoria Nile creating some of the most spectacular waterfalls in East Africa. The river is the park’s centre piece. Its suroundings provide memorable wildlife spectacles with regular visitors as elephant, giraffe and buffalo and permanent residents like the hippopotamus and Nile crocodile

Game Drives
Most visitors come to Murchison Falls to go on safari. The park provides home for 76 mammal species, including lion, leopard, elephant, Rothschild's giraffe, Cape buffalo, hartebeest... Buligi area is the park's best game viewing spot. Early morning and late afternoon are the optimum times for game drives.
A UWA ranger guide is recommended to help you to make the most of your game drive. Note Fort Murchison does not have any vehicle and can therefore not offer game drives. For rates on park fees visit UWA's website

Boat Launch to Murchison Falls
A highlight of your visit to Murchison is the launch trip upstream to view the Falls and wildlife coming down to drink and bathe. The round trips take three hours. You might opt for the alternative whereby you leave the boat at Fajao Gorge, climb to the top of the falls from where you ask your driver to pick you up. Fixed scheduled and private trips are organized by UWA and Wild Frontiers.

Boat Cruise to the Delta
An additional boat trip heads downstream to the papyrus delta at the river's entrance into Lake Albert. This 4-5 hour return voyage offers a good chance of sighting the shoebill stork and a variety of other wildlife. You might opt to step out at a prearranged spot from where your driver picks you up and continues with a game drive. Trips are organized by Wild Frontiers or UWA.

Fishing
The Nile below Murchison Falls provides exciting challenges to anglers including the chance to land a massive Nile Perch (the record is 108kg). Fishing is restricted to designated sites and places are limited so prior booking is recommended. Check with Wild Frontiers or UWA for your different options.

Viewing the the top of Murchison Falls
The most dramatic view of the waterfall is the Top of Falls where the sight and sound of the Nile crashing down the falls makes an unforgettable impression. The site may be reached either by vehicle or a half hour c1imb leaving the launch.

Chimp Trekking
Trails through Kaniyo Pabidi forest provide the opportunity to track chimpanzee and other primates. The forest is a magnificent virgin forest containing both mahogany and ironwood trees where 6 chimp groups have been habituated

Birdlife
The bird life is simply spectacular. Due to the diversity in habitats, the tick list reaches over 450 species with the shoebill stork remaining a favorite for many.

Hiking and nature walks

The vast landscapes and varied scenery of Murchison Falls National Park can be explored on foot. Trails through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo Forests provide sightings of many primates and birds, while walks around the Nile-Lake Albert Delta, offer possible sightings of the Shoebill. A hike around the top of Murchison Falls provides a completely different experience of the magnificent waterfall and for birders and nature lovers different walks on both south and north bank can be organized by UWA. For rates visit UWA's Website